The Internal Revenue Service Farmer's Tax Guide is now available on the IRS.gov website for use in preparing upcoming 2013 tax returns. The publication contains information on the farming business either as an owner or tenant.

North Carolina tobacco growers this week have taken exception to a letter signed by N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper and his counterparts that supports excluding the crop from a pending international trade agreement.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Vote Hemp, the nation's leading grassroots hemp advocacy organization working to revitalize industrial hemp production in the U.S., is excited to report that President Obama has signed the Farm Bill which contains an amendment to legalize hemp production for research purposes. Originally introduced by Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO), Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), the amendment allows State Agriculture Departments, colleges and universities to grow hemp, defined as the non-drug oilseed and fiber varieties of Cannabis, for academic or agricultural research purposes, but it applies only to states where industrial hemp farming is already legal under state law. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) successfully worked to retain and strengthen the hemp research amendment during the Farm Bill conference committee process. The full text of the bill may be found at: www.VoteHemp.com/FarmBill.

A few seasons ago, the national television series I host and produce, "Growing a Greener World," did an episode entitled, "The Dirt on Healthy Soil." In the episode, we visited a soil-testing lab, typical of such labs operated by a state agriculture department or university system. This particular lab was run by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, in Raleigh, N.C. Once inside, the first thing to strike me was the massive backlog of soil-filled boxes sent in by home gardeners and farmers to be processed for testing. There were many giant rolling mail hampers loaded to capacity in one large room and down the long hallway. In several other rooms, stack after stack of boxes already logged and ready for processing. Suffice it to say, many thousands of samples in queue, with hundreds more arriving every day.

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Kay Hagan secured key provisions for North Carolina farmers and rural communities in the bipartisan farm bill agreement announced this week, including her amendment to strengthen efforts to deter and prevent crop insurance fraud that drive up insurance prices on honest law-abiding farmers. The agreement sets agriculture policy for the next five years and reduces the deficit by tens of billions of dollars. The Senate must now approve the agreement before it can be signed into law.

Thousands of wild swine lurk in bottom lands and swamps near rivers and creeks in almost every county in North Carolina. Some carry diseases harmful to humans and other animals, and they cause countless monetary damage to agriculture.

Since North Carolina regulators have failed to stop hog pollution from flowing into the state's rivers, environmental groups have announced plans to sue a massive hog farm that provides pork for Chine...

Half of the country's most popular types of seafood can be harvested in North Carolina, a starting point for area officials, fishermen and vendors who hope to satisfy the growing demand for locally sourced seafood.

U.S. senators are expected to vote on a five-year farm bill agreement this week following a vote in the House last week. Carolina Public Press reports on how Reps. Foxx, McHenry and Meadows voted on the measure, which would expand a federal program for crop insurance and trim food stamps by $8 billion over the next decade.

AgriNews covers topics that affect local farm families and their businesses in Illinois and Indiana. Some of those topics include: crop and livestock management, agribusiness and new products, market information and national and state political issues.

A local foods cook-off and discussions centered on food safety, the business of farming and urban composting programs are a few of the agenda topics at the information-packed Feast Down East 4th Annual Regional Conference 8 a.m..-4 p.m. Feb. 6 at the University of North Carolina Wilmington Burney Center.

Feast Down East is a nonprofit effort working to boost small farms and the region's economy by increasing the public’s consumption of local foods.

Marcia Caton Campbell, executive director for the Center for Resilient Cities, will kick-off the conference with a presentation on urban and regional planning and its role in building resilient community food systems.

“We need our government leaders and community stakeholders to recognize the potential impact a strong local food system can have on a region’s economy,” said Leslie Hossfeld, Feast Down East co-founder and executive director.

The conference will include workshops for farmers, would-be farmers, chefs, food buyers, foodies, local food advocates, gardeners, public health professionals, urban and regional planners, nonprofits and government leaders.

Also during the event, the Feast Down East Agrarian Stewardship will be presented to one farmer and one chef who has provided exceptional support for Feast Down East’s work and local farm communities.

Chefs also will participate in a secret-ingredient cook-off featuring foods produced in southeastern North Carolina.

The conference fee is $10 for farmers and the general public and $30 for government/civic agencies. The price includes breakfast and lunch. Seating is limited. Registrants may bring at least one non-perishable food item to be donated to the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. To register for the conference, visit www.feastdowneast.org or call Feast Down East director Jane Steigerwald at 962-7105.

State lawmakers next week will begin discussing rules for government and commercial use of drone aircraft in North Carolina, and the balance between security and privacy will likely become a central issue.

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